For the past 11 months, photographer George Walker IV, and Opinion Engagement Editor David Plazas — with support and guidance from The Tennessean team — have told the story about the growing gap between prosperity and inequality in this booming city.

When Megan Barry ran for mayor of Metro Nashville in 2015, she made housing a key part of her campaign platform.

At the 2017 State of Metro address, in front of Bridgestone Arena and a large Predators banner, then-Mayor Barry made bold promises to continue to invest $10 million annually in the Barnes Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the program to incent nonprofit developers to build or preserve affordable housing.

The fund was named after the Rev. Bill Barnes, the affordable housing champion who died Aug. 21.

Barry also promised to invest $25 million in general obligation bonds to buy low-income housing and build affordable housing.

This was huge because no previous city mayor had ever promised to allocate so much money for housing.

“Government has to have the component of a safety net for the most vulnerable, but we also have to make sure that developers are building along transit lines, are building density that will include affordable and workforce housing, and I think that’s where government has a role,” she said then.

Throughout the year, she became a vocal advocate for equity and proposed Nashville’s largest infrastructure investment ever — the $5.4 billion transit plan, set to go to voters on May 1, 2018.

The transit plan would be a means to spur more housing for people of diverse income levels.

She touted a “Yes in my backyard” mantra, calling on developers, neighbors and businesses to be open to mixed-income living.

Tension with housing advocates

Her relationship with the influential interfaith social justice coalition Nashville Organized for Action and Hope was tense at times, especially since the beneficiaries of the government’s role in extending the city’s prosperity seemed to be the more affluent, as in the Major League Soccer stadium deal, the failed Greer Stadium redevelopment effort or companies that received taxpayer-funded incentives.

After that interview, she agreed to sit with a panel of citizens I invited to talk about issues that they cared about and affected them deeply, like homelessness, neighborhood character, air quality, education and displacement.

Barry listened intently, and her classic charisma convinced them that they should be hopeful.

In fact, organizations like the National League of Cities and the Brookings Institution had cited Nashville as a place that could eventually get the inclusive prosperity formula right.

Father Charles Strobel, of Room In The Inn, delivers the opening prayer before the start of Mayor Megan Barry's State of Metro Wednesay, April 26, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

He promised not to raise property taxes and cut planned cost-of-living raises to city employees.

Despite pleas from groups such as NOAH, he held steadfast to his no new taxes promise.

In June, however, the Metro Council, under council member and finance Chair Tanaka Vercher’s leadership, passed its own patchwork budget to get Nashville through the next year, narrowly avoiding a tax increase.

The Barnes fund director position recently became vacant, and a key question is, with a potentially difficult budget year in 2019, what will funding for affordable housing look like then?

Nashville Mayor David Briley mother, Jeannine Briley, cries as her son talks about her during his first State of Metro address at the Nashville Public Library Friday, May 4, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/For the Tennessean

Nashville Mayor David Briley takes a drink before getting emotional as he talks about his mother Jeannine Briley during his first State of Metro address at the Nashville Public Library Friday, May 4, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/For the Tennessean

Nashville Mayor David Briley greets others after speaking at his first State of Metro address at the Nashville Public Library Friday, May 4, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn., as his wife Jodie Bell, left, looks on. Mark Zaleski/For the Tennessean

Nashville Mayor David Briley mother Jeannine Briley, center, listens to her son speak about her during his first State of Metro address at the Nashville Public Library Friday, May 4, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. At left, is Jodie Bell, Mayor Davis Briley's wife. Mark Zaleski/For the Tennessean

Nashville Mayor David Briley and his mother Jeanne Briley embrace each other after he gave his first State of Metro address at the Nashville Public Library Friday, May 4, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/For the Tennessean

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Affordable housing strategy coming soon

On June 26, The Tennessean Editorial Board, of which I’m a part, and other reporters met with Briley at our offices to discuss the year ahead. I was particularly interested in his view on housing.

I had asked him if he planned to deliver on the promise to NOAH to create the $775 million dedicated fund. He and his 12 competitors in the May special mayoral election all raised their hands when the NOAH forum moderator asked if they were committed to this goal.

“We are working toward that goal," he said, though he clarified he had not specifically committed to that exact figure.

He added that he planned to increase the amount of money toward affordable housing, that he would spend the $25 million general obligation bonds promised by his predecessor for housing, and that he was looking for more solutions from the philanthropic and business communities.

I followed up with his press secretary, Judith Byrd, who on July 9 answered questions I emailed her.

Of note was the first question revolving around how Metro would prioritize affordable housing.

“A full strategy will be rolled out in the coming weeks. We welcome a discussion about metrics with advocates, the community and all stakeholders who can help us move the needle on this complex area of need for the city," she wrote.

That's a positive, but there is much work to be done.

According to the Metro government's website, the Barnes fund has provided or pooled financing to build or preserve 1,300 affordable units — only 4 percent of the needed 31,000 by 2026.

A political action committee backed by Arizona Public Service, the state's electric company, is trying to keep a renewable energy initiative off the ballot. The cartoonist's homepage, azcentral.com/opinions/benson Steve Benson, The Arizona Republic

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it is a-OK to confirm a Supreme Court justice right before an election. The late-night comics recall a different stance a couple of years ago, https://usat.ly/2MxorBy, on the Best of Late Night. USA TODAY

Advocates should continue to put pressure on their elected officials: the mayor and Metro Council members to fulfill promises; state lawmakers to help, not harm, cities from achieving greater equity; and members of Congress to pressure the White House finally to create a federal housing policy.

Housing needs to be a top issue for 2019 Metro mayoral, vice mayoral and council candidates, who must be able to articulate solutions in addition to identifying the problems.

Music City needs to get this right.

Nashville’s growth, its ability to retain and recruit talent, and its soul are at stake.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee. Call him at 615-259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.